Binder.



PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. W. K. TEWKSBURY. I

BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SKEBT 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 764,019. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. w. K. TEWKSBURY. BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. WW it'neooao 844/0 an 01 I I I @5 61mm UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 190 1.

PATENT OFFICE.

BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,019, dated July 5, 1904:. I

Application filed May 9, 1903. Serial No. 156.381. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM K. TEWKSBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highlands, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has particular relation to an improved device for binding loose leaves of all kinds; and its principal advantages are, first, that it provides for the keeping of all kinds of current records in growing books of any reasonable ultimate thickness without waste or blank space; second, that it makes it possible to add new sheets to either side of the volumes as they grow larger, and, third, that it provides a mode of fastening which can be made very secure.

My invention also covers an improved form of fastener especially useful in my binder and capable also of separate use in many connections where papers are to be held together.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of a back for the volume of bound sheets which while furnishing a convenience for labeling does not interfere with growth of the volume to indefinite thickness. This back is so constructed and applied that it can always be kept in a substantially symmetrical position behind the leaves and between the covers.

My preferred device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partly-perspective View of my separable covers in open position and with the papers removed. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same with papers in place. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view on the line on :26, Fig. 1, of a part of a binding-flap, showing the relation of my improved fastening-clip thereto. Fig. 4C is a perspective view of one of said fastening-clips. Fig. 5 is a view of another form of clip straightened out. Fig. 6 is a detail top view of my improved movable back piece. Fig. 7 shows one preferred form of end of brads as employed in this invention. Fig. 8 shows in perspective a modified form of side covers and also of brad securing and locking devices, and Fig. 9 shows a modified form of removal back piece or label-carrier.

In one form of my device I provide two stiff covers (like book-covers) 1 and 2, to which are fastened binding-flaps 3 and 4 by means of flexible hinges 5 and 6, which permit each flap and cover to be brought parallel and virtually in contact, as indicated by the dottedline position of the covers in Fig. 2. In said figure the dotted-line position shows the book closed, while the open position of the covers is shown in unbroken lines. The papers to be bound together are shown at 7 and are held between the binding-flaps in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Each fiap is perforated, as at 8 and 9 in Fig. 1, and the perforation in the two flaps register when the flaps are brought together. While I have shown a pair of holes in each flap, my invention is broad enough to cover the use of but a single perforation in each, or more than two may be used. The papers to be bound are correspondingly perforated, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and through each set of registering holes in flaps and papers are thrust the soft-metal brads or fasteners'lO and 11, as shown in Fig. 1. These brads are preferably so formed without heads as to be capable of being threaded through the registering holes from either side at will, permitting removal of papers without removing the brads. They are of sufficient length to accommodate the number of leaves or sheets 7 which it is intended to place in a single binder and permit of turning down at both ends, as at 14 and 15, be'

tween the binding-flap and its cover. For some of the purposes of this invention headed brads may be used, and no claim herein is to be limited in respect to absence or presence of a head on the brad unless so expressed. In order to hold the turned-down portions of the brads, and thus make the whole binding thoroughly secure, I provide clips of any desired character, but preferably of one of the following cheap and simple constructions.

Each hole 8 and 9 is accompanied by a second hole in the same flap 3 or 4, through which passes the soft-metal strap 16, having two sections or branches 17, which are spread apart against one face of the flap on each side of the hole to secure said strap in place.

Within a return-loop at the middle of the eluded from slipping.

strap 16 is fastened at its narrowest portion one leaf of a familiar form of metallic spring paper-clip 18, while the second or upper leaf of said clip remains free to receive under it the turned-down section 1 1 or 15 of the brad 10 or 11. The narrowed portion of the clipleaf being held as described, the clip is pre- The complete unfolding of the strap 17 is not, of course, essential to this invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, two sets or pairs of clips 18 are employed, one on each flap 3 and 4:. This is to provide for fastening down both ends of the brad. By using the form of tip on each brad wherein the flap, hook, or obstruction of any appropriate character is present, as shown in Fig. 7, the volume cannot be pulled apart, as the brad will not slip past and under the clip. The use of an obstruction on the tip of the brad is not essential to this invention.

In Fig. 5 is shown another preferred form of clip which can be substituted in some cases for that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The clip is composed of wings 20 and points 19 integral therewith and extending at right angles on each side. and pushed together through holes in a flap like the branches 17, or they may be forced into the material of a flap. In either case the wings 20 are bent over toward each other, so as to form double bends, each of the nature of the single bend shown in Fig. 4c.

The spacing of the perforations 8 and 9 and that of the clips 18 may be varied at will without departing from my invention. Indeed, in some aspects my present invention is entirely independent of the kind of clip used.

In placing new sheets in the file the brad ends are straightened out and the cover 2 and its flap 1 removed. The new sheets, duly perforated, are then slipped over the brads and the flap 4 is replaced, as already indicated. Thus a book is formed which is always full and yet always has room for further matter until the limits of desired thickness are reached. This limit corresponds to almost the entire length of the brads used, and as these may be made nearly as long as the covers the thickness of the volume when completed may be very great. It is obvious that since the brads are so constructed as to make it possible to thread them through the proper apertures in either direction loose leaves may be applied to or removed from either the front or back of the volume, as desired, while at the same time insuring preservation at all times of the proper position of the sheets already constituting the volume, since these latter are not deprived of the brads at any time.

In volumes of this kind, while it is best to have the covers 1 and 2 separate, a back of some sort is desirable for receiving labels to be read when the volume stands on the shelf.

The points can be bent parallel I have devised a back which answers every useful purpose which does not connect (and therefore limit) the covers, which can be kept securely and symmetrically in place, and answers as well for a very thick as for a very thin volume. This back is made of any suitable material, as paper, card, or metal, bent as shown in Fig. 6, with a back section 21 and a middle extension 22 adapted to be thrust in between the leaves, as shown in Fig. 2. This extension, whether single or double, is perforated, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, to permit the brads 10 and 11 to pass through it. It is thereby held firmly in place however few or many are the leaves used. The back may or may not be as long up and down as the covers.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modification of the removable back piece wherein the extension 22 is provided with slots 22, shaped substantially as shown, instead of simple holes for the brads. This form can be applied to or removed from the volume without unfastening the same. For applying this form of back the extension 22 is pushed in between the sheets from behind in such a position as to admit the fastening-brad to the openings or slots 22. I Vhen pushed all the way in, the back piece is slid longitudinally, so as to bring the brads into the offset portions 22 of the slots, when the back will be secured and cannot be removed without securing it in the opposite direction. It is within my invention to use any form of slots allowing the extension to be thrust past the brads, and it is not essential, therefore, that the slots having an offset portion be used.

It is within my present invention to add any desired modifications to the back for sccuring labels, &c., thereto or for other purposes. The form and material of this back may be such as desired without limitation other than that named in each claim, respectively.

In Fig. 8 is shown a binder having sides or covers provided with fastening-flaps 23, which remain in substantially the same plane with their respective covers or sides when the volume is closed, not being normally turned in like the flap 3 and 1. I find this promotes easy opening of the volume. In this case the brad ends come outside of the volume, as shown. The form of clips and brads and the modeof assembling them may be the same for this last form of binder as for that shown in Fig. 1; but I have shown another arrangement in Fig. 8, which also comes within my present invention. This form of locking attachment is particularly useful for books intended for final filing, to which no further additions are made when completed. Here the end of each brad 14c and 15 is confined by two clips 24: and 25, having their openings oppositely turned. As shown in the drawings and as preferably constructed, the two clips serve for both brad ends. I prefer this arrangement (while it is not essential to my invention) because it makes it possible to bring the brad ends into the securely-locked position, (shown in Fig. 8,) where the tip of each brad lies within the side of the other brad in each clip. This arrangement is secured by first placing one brad end within the proper clips and then forcing the other into place by pressing its tip sidewise over the other brad and between it and the overlying clip-face, thus bringing both tips into inside position in their clips. The clips need not be'broader for this purpose than those shown in Fig. 4, or, if desired, the full effect of a broad clip can be secured by using two similarly-placed clips in the place of each clip 24 or 25, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8.

My binder may be used for carbon-copies of letters, &c. for indexes,for letters received, for orders, reports, mounted photographalbums, and invoices and for papers and records of all kinds, and the methods of use of the binder can be varied to suit the particular filing system to which it is to be applied. Lctter-press books can be conveniently kept in binders of this kind and can be made as thick as desired, with loose-leaf indexes. Separate tissue copies can be thus filed in volumes.

What I claim is 1. In a binder for paper sheets, a pair of covers, a binding-flap hinged to each cover, a removable flexible metal brad passing through holes in said flaps and clips fastened to said flaps for securing the ends of said brads, the end of each brad being provided with an obstruction large enough to prevent pulling of the brad through a clip, but not large enough to prevent said obstruction from passing through the holes in the flaps, substantially as described.

2. In a binding means a flexible-metal brad and means for securing the end thereof comprising a clip having two leaves and a metal strap embracing one of the leaves of said clip, substantially as described.

3. In a binder for paper sheets, a pair of covers, a perforated binding-flap hinged to each cover, one of which has two holes, asoftmetal brad passing through one hole of each flap and a fastening for the end of said brad comprising a two-leaved clip and a soft-metal strap embracing one leaf thereof and passing through the second hole in one of said flaps, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a separable-leaf binder and a bundle of leaves or sheets therein, a removable and normally visible. back piece comprising an extension adapted to be fastened between the sheets and a rear portion fixed substantially at right angles to said extension across the back of said sheets, and means for securing said extension to the sides of the binder independently of the rear portion of the back, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a separable leaf binder and a bundle of sheets therein, a removable and normally visible back piece comprising a single sheet folded from each side toward the middle in the same direction and at right angles to the main or back portion of said sheet, and means for securing said extension to the sides of the binder independently of the rear portion of the back, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a separable loosesheet binder fastened by brads, a removable and normally visible back piece having an extension adapted to be thrust between said sheets, said extension being provided with notches properly placed to fit over said brads, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a separable loosesheet binder having independent and separa ble sides fastened by brads, a removable and normally visible back piece having an extension adapted to be thrust between said sheets, said extension being provided with notches having an offset portion for reception of said brads when the back is in as described.

8. In a binder, two entirely separable perforated covers, a removable back having a perforated extension adapted to project between said covers, securing-brads having a cross-section from end to end so small as to permit of their being passed all the way through the perforations in said covers and in said removable back either end first and separate fastening means for both ends of said brads attached to both of said covers.

9. In a binder of the class described, two perforated covers, a soft-metal brad passing through said perforations and two clips for the end of said brad and attached to one cover, said clips having their openings oppositely turned, substantially as described.

10. In a binder of the class described, two perforated covers, two soft-metal brads passing through said covers for securing them together and two clips on one of the covers placed between the perforations for the brads, said clips having their openings turned in opposite directions and said clips being adapted to confine both of said brads at once, substantially as described.

WILLIAM K. TEWVKSBURY.

place, substantially 

